As reported by Football London, Brazilian wonderkid Robert Renan is linked with a move to Premier League giants Chelsea and Arsenal this season.
The 18-year-old is currently available for £45 million but any interested club would try to monitor the player before snapping him for a cheaper price. Chelsea and Arsenal, have shown interest in signing Brazilian players over the upcoming transfer windows.
The young centre-back has made a few appearances with the Brazilian side Corinthians. However, his value has increased as a result of his performances for the Brazil U18 and U20 teams.
Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers were also interested in signing him during the summer transfer window after he made his senior debut at the age of 18 and was doing admirably well with his native club. They attempted to sign the defender for less than £10 million but the transfer fell through.
Now, if Chelsea or Arsenal wanted to acquire the defender, they would have to pay his release clause in order to lure him to England. When it comes to bringing young Brazilian prospects and turning them into future stars, the Blues haven’t had much luck.
During the hiring drive in the early 2010s, they brought Kenedy and Lucas Piazon. However, none of the two enjoyed their time at Stamford Bridge, and they did not accomplish anything noteworthy elsewhere.
However, Todd Boehly and the board are eager to invest in developing young players at the academy or with the main team under the new ownership. They also aim to sign more athletes that are more diverse. A popular destination for them is Brazil.
Renan has the potential to succeed with the blues but signing him at such a high price will come with a risk. However, if the centre-back continues to perform well then other elite clubs will also join the race to sign the Brazilian.
Chelsea would need to make a smart decision as they have already started building for the future.
